Ski binding



Oct. 5, 1948.

K. G. HUMLEGARD 2,450,514

SKI BINDING Filed July '27, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

Mfg/mm@ ATTORNEYS KarZ QEumZeyczr-c Patented Oct. 5, 1948 UNITED STATES EPATENT GFFICE SKI BINDING;`

Karl G. Humlegard, Washington, D. C.

Application July 27, 1945, Serial No. 687,391

21 Claims. l

My invention relates to skis and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved ski binding.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side View of a portion of a ski illustrating the ski binding.

Figure 2 is a top View.

FigureV 3 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view of a spring connection, and

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a modified form of tensioning means.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the binding I8 comprises two L- shaped plates l2 arranged edge to edge on the face I4 of the ski I6. These plates are recessed at I8 for the reception of a latch plate 20. The latch plate 28 and the two plates I2 are provided with intertting teeth 22 for holding the two plates I2 against separation. Screws 24 secure the plate to the ski I6. Both plates I2 are clamped to the face I4 by screws 26 extending through slots 28 in the plates and threaded into the ski. 38, these flanges being arranged in converging relationship forwardly of the ski and are spaced for reception of the shoe sole 32 therebetween.

The spacing between the flanges may be varied by adjusting the plates I2 relatively to each other.

Secured to the plates I2 are upstanding pins 34, each plate being provided with two such pins. Openings 3S are bored in the sole 32 for the reception of the pins 34. The plates I2 are rst adjusted to properly position the flanges 38 with respect to a shoe sole of a given size, after which the holes 35 are accurately placed to receive the pms.

A U-shaped pressure member 38 coacts with the pins 34 for latching the shoe sole to the ski.l

This member is bent to provide short shafts 48 extending loosely through openingsY 42 in the anges 30. These shafts are arranged substantially in right angular relationship with the end portions 44 of the member 38, which portions are bent to the convguration of Figure l to bear down on the sole 32. To the bight 46 of the member 38 is xedly secured a sheet metal T-shaped plate 48 by bending the strap elements or ends of the arms 58 thereof about the bight. An upwardly opening channel 52 is formed on the leg of the Each plate I2 has an upstanding flange The spring 56 is bowed upwardly and lies in engagement with the bight 46, with the leg porplate 48 for the reception of the bight 54 of a tions 44 bearing against the plates I2. Thus the leg portions 44 are yieldingly urged against the plates, and the sole 32 maybe easily slipped' into position by pressing downwardly on the bight 46' to pivot the leg portions' 44 upwardly from the plates I2. The leg portions press against the sole and hold it firmly against the plates I2, and the pins 34 effectively key the sole against relative lateral shifting on the plates.

This binding eliminates the necessity of heel straps and similar devices for attaching the shoe to the ski. Heel straps require especially designed shoes and do not operate successfully on ordinary shoes. In the present case, the binding operates equally well on shoes of all designs, since the shoe anchorage resides in the provision of suitable openings in the shoe sole, With the leg portions 44 operating on the upper edge margins of the soles to hold the shoe in place.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of construction to the extent that a compression spring 54 is interposed between the plate 48 and the face i4 ofthe ski I6.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

l. In a ski, the combination of a pair of toe irons adjustably secured to the face of the ski for receiving a shoe sole and each having an upright side ange and a base plate, said flanges having pivot apertures with axes converging in a rearwardly direction of the ski, a plurality of upstanding spaced pins secured to each base plate and adapted to t within cooperative openings of a shoe sole to positively retain the same against slippage relative to the base plate a Iwire member for releasably retaining said shoe sole against said pins and said base plates, said wire member including a substantially U-shaped bight portion, arm elements diverging therefrom rearwardly of the ski, supporting portions extending from said arm elements parallel to saidtoe iron flanges, pivot portions extending at right angles from said supporting portions and rotatably mounted in said pivot apertures and shoe sole engaging portions extending from said pivot portions in a plane parallel to said supporting portions and adapted to engage the shoe sole to retain the same interlocked with said upstanding pins, a substantially T-shaped means having its aligned transverse cross arms curved around said bight portion and its central leg terminating in a semi-cylindrical groove directed away from the face of the ski, a substantially U-shaped spring wire element for yieldingly rotating the wire member, said spring wire element having its bight portion located in said semi-cylindrical groove and its legs passing under the arms of said T-shaped means and said bight portion, a bracket secured to said ski and having an aperture for receiving and anchoring the terminal portions of the legs of said spring.

2. In a ski harness, the combination, which comprises, a pair of L-shaped plates having horizontally disposed sections with upwardly extending iianges at the outer edges, said plates positioned with the flanges converging toward the forward end of the ski and with the flanges provided with bearing openings spaced from the cuter ends thereof, means adjustably mounting the plates on a ski, interlocking means securing bearing sections in the arms pivotally mounted in the said bearing openings of the iianges of the L-shaped plates, and with the extended ends of the said arms extending downwardly and rearwardly to clamp the soles of shoes positioned in the harness against the horizontally disposed sec tions of the L-shaped plates, a T-shaped plate with the ends of the arms thereof mounted on the arms of the clamp, an elongated U-shaped spring having arms and a cross member with the cross member held in the leg of the T-shaped plate, and a clip on the ski having an opening in which the extending ends of the arms of the spring are freely held.

KARL G. HUMLEGARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 39,974 Norway Oct. 13, 1924 57,596 Norway Feb. 8, 1937 57,945 Norway May 3, 1937 59,295 Norway Apr. 25, 1938 93,036 Sweden Oct. 24, 1938 97,886 Sweden Jan. 23I 1940 

